Hard work involves high-risk activities. To work safely, workers must be physically and mentally alert. This means that fatigue is an enormous risk. Employers and employees have a responsibility to manage fatigue in the workplace ...Read the rest of entry »

This week, the Wisconsin news media was quick to inform us about a prevailing wage report released by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) that claims taxpayers will not save a dime, but instead pay millions of dollars ($336 million annually) in additional taxes if lawmakers repeal prevailing wage ... Read the rest of entry »

It's that time of year when construction management teams need to remind those working in the heat to stay hydrated. The Madison OSHA Office says it is getting calls and emails from employees complaining about the warmer weather. For the first time, OSHA Madison has developed a Heat Illness Quiz ...Read the rest of entry »

This being "Workforce Week," it's a good time to share with you a feature on a current apprentice, Andy Lensink, with De Troye Electric Service, Inc., Oostburg, and a gold medal winner at the 2017 National Craft Competition. Andy, 33, had a good childhood, raise in the small town of Oostburg. His mom did secretary work and his dad worked at the post office. He liked playing sports and building model cars and then messing around ...Read the rest of entry »

On September 23, 2017, OSHA’s new Silica standard (1926.1153) goes into effect. For construction companies with a relatively low silica exposure, a largely misguided response has been repeated over and over – “this doesn’t affect me and my company.” In reality, ANY silica exposure must be evaluated ...
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National construction employment remained largely unchanged for the second consecutive month, adding 5,000 net new jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Owning or managing a construction company, chances are you have a lot on your mind, from hiring employees to managing projects to paying bills. One thing that probably isn’t top on your list is ...Read the rest of entry »

As the pace of commercial construction picks up, you may not think there is any need to improve in the area of sales. Perhaps you feel there is no need to work harder. You are already working harder than company leaders in most industries, right? Matt Pletzer of Lift Consulting in Madison, Wisconsin, recommends ... Read the rest of entry »

When it comes to creating efficiencies in construction, BIM software plays a major role. BIM, or building information modeling, has taken CAD blue prints to a whole new level; a much more efficient level leading to cost savings. BIM is a powerful tool. Like any power tool, the end product is dependent on the user ...Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today commended President Trump for signing a resolution into law eliminating the Obama administration’s controversial “Volks rule” (formally known as Clarification of an Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness final rule). Congress passed the resolution through the Congressional Review Act (CRA)...Read the rest of entry »